Review: Lord Of The Flies – Theatr Clwyd

The latest co-production between Theatr Clwyd and Sherman Theatre is well underway in Mold. William Golding’s Lord Of The Flies has been given a makeover and follows a group of boys as they’re marooned on an island. The only difference is, this cast (bar one) is formed of women.

Poised in the Anthony Hopkins Theatre, enjoying the ambient sounds of the sea, chattering away, all of a sudden, unexpectedly, the room is submerged into darkness.

Immediately, we’re introduced to Ralph (Lola Adaja) and Piggy (Gina Fillingham), two of the characters to be marooned on the island. As far as central protagonists go, Adaja is the perfect fit, bringing youthfulness, naivety and strength to the character.

Ralph and Piggy first meet on the island (Photo: Sam Taylor)

Adding some much needed comedy, at times, are Sam (Lowri Izzard) and Eric (Mari Izzard). They clearly thrive off working with each other, evident in this production.

Sam and Eric struggle with the power trip (Photo: Sam Taylor)

Unlike the rest of the group, Simon (Olivia Marcus), she seems different, a good different. I have a soft spot for Simon. Marcus immerses herself into this role. She has the essence of it, one who is likeable and easy to relate to.

Controversially, one of my favourite characters is Jack (Kate Lamb), a choir prefect. Jack is like a shepherd who loves to lead, not a sheep that has to follow, taking authority into her own hands. It’s a constant power struggle with Jack, unless, of course, she’s the one in charge. Actions like this is what leads to to fatal consequences. I was left feeling dazzled with the amount of commitment that Lamb has for this role, especially during her savage rebellion with Roger (Hannah Boyce), Maurice (Leah Walker) and Henry (Laura Singleton).

A stand out performance, hands down, comes from Fillingham. Overlooked by almost everyone, bullied and tormented, Piggy is the most grounded of the group. Hardly ever recognised as a leader, her confidence almost feels shattered. What’s charming about Piggy is how she takes Percyval (Lowri Hamer) under her wing. Percyval seeks comfort from Piggy, which Piggy is able to provide.

There are some real dark moments, most of which comes from Roger. Boyce’s character development is one to look out for. Roger becomes such a twisted, psychotic animal, using the blood of a dead pig to paint on her face, tribal chants loudly and dances to the beat of her own drum. She’s a law unto herself.

Kill the pig (Photo: Sam Taylor)

The group are all fascinated by the beast. There is some ambiguity to what this beast could actually be. Could we all contain elements of the beast in us? Possibly so. The beast is one of the imperative factors for the downfall of the group.

Let’s talk about sets! The colours used are what first caught my eye. That, combined with the lighting from Tim Mascall (Lighting Designer), contributes to some absolutely nail biting drama which, at times, can leave you breathless. Lighting and sound play just as an important part to this production.

I appreciate how these women have all taken on male roles, but address themselves using female pronouns – a brilliant stylistic choice, adding a fresh, modern dynamic. The 10 ladies shine in their own right, all taking on such strong leads. For some of these actresses, Lord Of The Flies is their professional debut, you would never be able to tell from their confident performances.

This production is centred around authority and leadership. On a lonely island where there is not a governing body, this aspect is taken advantage of by many with opposing views and ideas. I think many of them do start to realise that the grass isn’t necessarily greener on the other side of the fence. Emma Jordan (Director) has been able to exploit the talents of the cast to their fullest potential.

Savage dancing (Photo: Sam Taylor)

Lord Of The Flies runs until October 13, more information and tickets can be found here.